Plan Summer Camp!

 This summer we’re hosting Maker Camp.  The past few years, I’ve limited Camp to three days.  Why?  June and July are busy months.  We help with VBS and a two week Faith camp.  Both require a great deal of planning.  In August we travel and return ready to tackle fall classes.  

There are key factors when planning Science Camp.

1.  Find a space with both indoor and outdoor room.  The fellowship hall at church can be ideal.  For years our church hosted VBS and then Science Camp.  If your church campus has the room, try to host Camp there.

2. Recruit help.  Teens are more likely to volunteer than adults, especially teens who have experience with STEM camps.  These teens want other kiddos to enjoy the fun.  I rely on teen help.  I have had the best luck recruiting adults when I’m looking for specific skills.  For example, nurses and doctors will volunteer for Anatomy Academy.  The local Rescue Squad will send out a truck and show kids basic first aid.  My friend, Herb, a forester, led hikes in the woods.  The Boy Scouts have volunteered when asked to teach a specific skill, such as knots.  (I’m not strict about Science Camp.  Kiddos like to learn knots.)

3. Look for activities which use recycled materials, such as scrap wood.  Make a list.  Ask everyone to save bottles, egg cartons, scrap wood, Pringles’ cans, etc.  Oatmeal boxes and coffee cans are always useful.  I keep boxes of recycled containers in the basement, such as yogurt cups to mix solutions.  I store solutions in labeled milk jugs. 

4.  Make a list of every activity with the required supplies.  See what you already have.  For example, if you have a mini pool and a hula hoop, make Kid in a Bubble.  I search based on supplies on hand.  I have pool noodles: Pool Noodle Balance Board and Pool Noodle Finger Rocket.  Don’t forget to add a few songs, games, and snacks.  Bonus points if your snacks follow your theme.  Honestly, my snacks are bags of pretzels, animal crackers, and chips.  Science Camp at our church ate the leftover snacks from VBS.  I use this compendium of classic tunes, such as Tom the Toad, for fun songs.  Another favorite is Herman the Worm.  

5.  As you plan your activities, map out the morning.  Most activities last 10-15 minutes, the attention span for most younger kiddos.  Snack lasts about 15 minutes.  If you have a big field or play ground, snack can last 20-30 minutes.  Bring balls!  Snack and play is a good time to send everyone outside with the teens so you can clean up and regroup.  I have at least ten activities ready for each day.  (BTW if the kiddos are engaged, I let them continue to tinker as long as they want.  It doesn’t happen often.)   Have extra things to do!  You need to be able to switch gears if an activity flops or the kids start to get a little wild.  

6.  Budget at least $500 for 40 kids for a week.  This is possible if you collect and use recycled materials and accept donations of goods.  I used to fund-raise for VBS and Science Camp.  Most of the families of the kids who attended couldn’t afford to pay a fee.  The best fund-raiser was a media and toy sale: books, CDs, DVDS, and toys.  We usually raffled a giant bear from Costco.  This fund-raiser usually generated about $1000–enough for VBS and Science Camp.  We set up trifold posters of the kiddos from VBS and Science Camp.  I can also recommend yard sales as excellent fund-raisers.

7.  Include games and challenges.  These activities are both cheap and fun.  Frugal Fun has a number of Minute to Win It Challenges.  BTW we declare winners, but do not award prizes.  Prizes cost money.  Money is needed for activities.  I do like to have small prizes to send home with everyone: bouncy balls, flying toys, tops, etc.  Besides, the kiddos are going to make a bunch of things to take home. 

Keep things fun!  Sing!  Play games!  Allow outdoor time!  Laugh!  Keep things moving!  Have a dozen, quick to make extra activities to add on an emergency basis.